Growing up, Mike Standfest always had a love for soccer. That love led
him to start playing when he was five years old and continues with him
as he approaches graduation from Calvin in May.

Between Standfest’s early start in soccer and upcoming graduation,
he has earned a number of accolades on the soccer field. At Elk Rapids
(Mich.) High School, Standfest earned All-State second team honors his
junior year and first team honors his senior year. At Calvin he has been
equally successful, earning All-MIAA second team status during 2003 and
All-MIAA honorable mention standing during the 2002 season. Over the course
of his four-year tenure with the varsity team (2000 - 2003), no player
has started more games in the defensive backfield than Standfest.

Chris Hughes, head soccer coach for the Knights, said Standfest is a
team player. “When I told Mike that I needed to move him to outside
back this year, instead of stopper like last year, he just looked at me
and said, 'Sure coach, whatever I need to do for the team.’ He was
part of a senior class that was the glue for this year’s team.”

Standfest, a marking back, was an integral part of a Calvin defensive
machine that allowed a league-best six goals in MIAA play, including eight
shut-out victories. The Knights finished tied atop the MIAA with Hope,
sporting a 10-2-0 conference record — their first league crown since
1999. The MIAA men’s soccer title was the 16th in Calvin history,
with the Knights holding more MIAA men’s soccer titles than any
other league school.

During the final week of the season, Standfest was named MIAA Co-Defensive
Player of the Week.

As a business major graduating in May, Standfest is looking to enter
the family business of masonry. With his brother, Josh, he hopes one day
to take over the reins of the business from their father.

For Standfest, the lessons learned from playing soccer are easily transferable
to everyday life. “During the season, soccer makes you a more committed
student because you are forced to budget your time. You have so many things
competing for your time, and that’s the way it will be in the working
world,” he said.

In the two years that Hughes has been at the helm of Calvin soccer, he
has seen Standfest mature as a player. “Michael is a gamer —
I have never had to worry about him in the back at all. No matter what
the level of the game, Mike would always rise to meet that level.”

According to Standfest, this year’s squad understood the essence
of what it meant to be a team. “It seemed like this year we played
as more of a team. But it was really more than that, too; we are all friends
off the field and like to hang out with each other.”

While there are no defensive schemes ahead for Standfest, the lessons
learned on the soccer pitch and his love for the game will forever be
a part of Mike Standfest — soccer player or not.